Ababil, Karrar, Arash advanced drones join Iranian Army arsenal

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jan 2024 16:01

The Iranian Army has received dozens of top-of-the-line drones, including the multipurpose Ababil-5 and the interceptor Karrar-3.

Iranian homegrown Karrar and Ababil missiles, transferred to the Iranian Army's possession, are seen at a military complex, during a ceremony attended by the Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Minister of Defense Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, in Iran, on January 23, 2024. (Iranian Ministry of Defense)

Dozens of top-of-the-line homegrown drones were delivered to the Iranian Amry's fleet on Tuesday, Iranian news agencies reported.

Among the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) received by the Army are the Ababil-4 and Ababil-5 drones, Karrar-3 drones, and Arash-2 suicide drones.

A ceremony was held in the Iranian military complex and attended by the Army commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Minister of Defense Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.

Ababil-family of drones

The Ababil drones, seen at the ceremony, can carry out both reconnaissance missions and engage ground targets. The newest version, the Ababil-5, can carry up to six Qaem glide bombs or anti-air missiles. Optionally, the drone can be armed with a number of Iranian-produced Almas anti-tank guided missiles. Moreover, the drone can be employed in close-range aerial combat situations.

The drone can fly up to 25,000 feet and cruise at speeds between 150-200 km/h. The multi-purpose drones also proved their effectiveness in naval patrol missions, turning back the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer on October 4, 2023.

ویدیویی از الحاق پهپادهای راهبردی ساخت وزارت دفاع به سازمان رزم ارتش pic.twitter.com/JQOlef77JQ
— MESHKAT (@projectmeshkat) January 23, 2024

Karrar-3

The Iranian Army also received dozens of Karrar-3 drones, which are turbo-powered and capable of carrying a single munition. Karrar-3 drones have a range of 1,000m and cruise at high speeds, estimated at 700 km/h.

The drone can be equipped with the Iranian-produced Majid, a surface-to-air missile. It is worth noting that loading a Majid missile onto the Karrar drone has proved to be effective in trials conducted by Iranian armed forces.

Arash-2

Finally, the Arash-2 drone is one of the world's longest-range suicide drones. Staying on theme, the Iranian-developed and produced drone can hit targets up to 2,000 km away from the launch site. The drone is capable of supporting a substantial payload that, when coupled with its extensive range capabilities, elevates it to a distinguished status among similar systems.

All of the UAVs received by Iran's Army have been equipped with "self-protection" and "anti-electronic warfare systems."

This most recent addition follows a series of advances in Iranian military technology, which have covered a long checklist for Tehran's quest for military autonomy. Last week, the Iranian Armed Forces held an exercise in which the most recent Iranian air defense systems were put to the test, achieving remarkable results on the field. The country has also made strides in the sea, adding multiple vessels to its fleet, as well as a number of anti-ship missiles and drones.